Petcock-opener



J. E. MESSENGER.

PETCOCK OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

R g 5 my div PATENT OFFICE.

JACK E. MESSENGER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

PETCOOK-OPENER.

Application filed. May 5, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Jack E. MEssENeEn, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of Des Moines,Polk county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful PetcocleOpener, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object ofthis invention is to provide an improved tool for openingand closing pet-cocks, drain valves and the like that are not readilyaccessible for manual operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tool whichmay be employed for operating pet-cocks or drain valves and for cleaningsaid cocks or valves to permit the passage of liquid.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation illustrating my improved tool. Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe operating end of the tool. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the handleend of the tool, taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction of the device as shown a handle 10 is provided,preferably flat and relatively wide, which may well be made of a pieceof sheet metal of oblong shape. At its outer end the handle may beformed with a hole 11 by which it may be suspended. At its opposite endthe handle is formed with an extension 12 adapted to be bent around theshank 13 of the tool proper. The tool itself is formed of a rod of ironor other suitable material, of the desired length, having one endflattened and contacting with one face of the handle and embraced andengaged near such flattened end by the extension 12, the parts beingsuitably and rigidly connected as by soldering, welding or the like.Near its opposite end the rod 13 is bent substantially at the point 14and extends a short distance substantially at right angles to the shankportion and in the same plane as said shank portion and the flat handle10; then the rod is recurved, at the point 15, outwardly from the planeabove defined, and extends parallel with the portion between the bends14, 15 and slightly spaced from such portion, thereby forming a hook 16which lies in a plane sub stantially perpendicular to the plane of theshank portion and fiat handle 10 and at one Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Serial No. 294,788.

side of said shank portion. At a point nearly opposite the bend 1 1 therod is reduced in diameter to form a slender prong 1.7 which preferablyextends a material and considerable distance from the shank portion 13,on the opposite side to the hook 16.

In practical use the tool may be employed to reach pet-cocks, drainvalves or the like located in positions not easily accessible by thehand, and be used to open and close said cocks and valves. For instancethe petcocks located in the lower side of the crank case of certainmotor vehicles, and employed for draining or testing the supply oflubricating oil in such case, may be reached with this tool withoutrequiring the operator to get under, or partially under the vehicle, andprevents soiling of clothes. The hook 16 is caused to engage the flathandle (not shown) of the pet-cock or valve and manual pressure appliedtorsionally on the flat handle 10 results in a turning of the valvehandle to open or close the valve. Thereafter the tool may be disengagedfrom the valve handle and the attenuated prong 17 inserted in the valvecasing to clear the valve of any obstructions which may be present andperniit the flow of fluid therefrom. The prong 17 preferably is ofsuflicient length to reach entirely through the valve to interior of thereceptacle with which it communicates.

The tool, which for the particular purpose indicated need not exceedtwenty inches in length, is of such size and shape that it can bereadily carried in the tool box or under the seat cushion of thevehicle. If desired the handle end may be employed for insertion in thefuel supply tank, to determine the level of fuel contained therein.

The handle 10, being fiat and relatively broad, is adapted to bear anysuitable sort of advertising matter.

I claim as my invention- 1. A device of the class described, comprisingan elongated shank having a handle on one end thereof, a recurved hookbeing formed on the opposite end portion of said shank, the terminalmember of the hook being extended beyond the line of the shank andreduced in diameter to form a clearance prong.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a rod forming anelongated shank, said rod being bent laterally adjacent one end and thenrecurved to form a hook the sides of which are substantially paralleland Very close together whereby said hook may engage the flat sides ofthe finger-grip of a pet-cock; the terminal member of the hook ending inthe plane of the hook whereby said hook is readily engageable anddisengageable relative to such finger grip.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a rod forming anelongated shank, said rod being bent laterally adjacent one end and thenrecurved to form a hook the sides of which are substantially parallel,the terminal member of the hook being in a plane spaced from the planeof the shank and initial member of the hook, the terminal member of thehook being extended beyond the line of the shank and reduced in diameterto form a clearance prong.

4:. A deyice of the class described, comprising a rod forming anelongated shank, a fiat handle formed with an extension at one endadapted to embrace and engage the shank near one end portion thereof andbe secured thereto, said rod being bent to form a hook lying in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the plane of said shank and flat handle.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 19thday of.

April, 1919.

JACK E. MESSENGER.

